quiet riot

about a week ago, i had the misfortune of being downtown when a protest was happening. now, i'm all for protesting for something you believe in, if that's your thing (it's not mine). but this was different.

i was headed downtown for an appointment after work. i got out of the metro and walked a short distance (only to realize i'd gone the wrong way), turned around and crossed in front of the same metro station. only this time there were some 2 dozen cops, in full riot gear, heading inside. seemed odd. and frightening (i mean, i *just* left the same station). then i remembered that the students have been protesting tuition hikes and figured it was them.

i continued to meander the streets, looking for a bank, when i realized most of the streets were barricaded by cops. lots of them. it was unnerving. i hadn't realized the student protests had escalated to this. i turned up a side street only to hear an incredibly loud noise and suddenly see a group of people running. in my general direction. so i got out of there. fast. really fast.

it seemed unusual that the students could cause such intensity amongst the cops. i've been reading in the paper (every morning...) about their protests (a whole *other* story) but only remembered one count of violence. they've been pretty passive-aggressive since that time.

it wasn't until the next morning that i read what the riot was really about: the 16th annual march against police brutality. the irony of this is painful. according to the papers (and i read a kind of left wing one, so i feel it's pretty accurate), the "marchers" were throwing things at cops, turned over a cop car and vandalized and looted a few major shops downtown, amongst other things. when the cops responding by throwing "sound grenades", people got more violent and the rioting escalated. the paper also had some quotes from rioters discussing how this clearly demonstrates needless police aggressiveness.

correct me if i'm wrong but it seems to me that this is essentially, well, asking for it. it's like complaining that sharks are dangerous and demonstrating it by covering yourself in fresh meat and jumping in the ocean. or maybe it's more like sitting next to your brother and poking him repeatedly, while he tells you that if you keep doing it he'll hit you, and then wondering why he hit you (uhm, not that this uhm, ever happened to me...to be fair, i was 10. 12. ok, like 18. whatever)

the idea that a group of people would be protesting violence by engaging in acts of violence is beyond me. surely the best way to show that people are too violent is to be peaceful. or causing some sort of non-violent chaos. take the students for example. whilst i don't agree with their protest (again, another story), i think they are being very clever with their protesting. they generally just go and block/sit in the streets or in office buildings. or block entrances to major bridges/highways. enough to make people in the city go nuts, but not enough to cause a riot. people pay attention to them. cops actually facilitate them in their protest (directing traffic, etc)...as long as they don't get out of hand. makes more sense to me. fight for your rights. don't just fight.

again, i'm all for protesting if that's what you believe in. but it's pretty well accepted that you can't fight fire with fire. and if you choose too (*ahem* rioters), you can't complain that you've been burned.
xo

overheard

i am starting to think that i could write a whole blog based on things that happen at my gym. every day i leave there with things to write about, though i often forget them by the end of the day. i'm not sure if it's my gym specifically or just gyms in general. either way, it makes for interesting blog fodder. \

this morning in the locker room, i overheard 2 women discussing one of their daughters. the young girl in question needs a dress for a bah/bat mitzvah. the conversation was fascinating. some bits i agreed with, some not. first, the woman said "it says 'cocktail'. what is an 11 yr old supposed to wear that's 'cocktail''? agreed. 11yrs old. cocktail. those words don't go together. i realize bah mitzvahs are coming of age parties, but i always thought they included (correct me if i'm wrong. i don't know much about jewish culture) music, dancing, gifts and food. cocktails? interesting. for 11yr olds? wrong. just wrong.

then she says "it's so hard to buy for her cause she's built like me. with a stomach, hips, you know. she's a big girl". agreed. what do you buy an 11yr old girl who is built like her mom? they don't quite fit in the kids category anymore, but they certainly don't fit the lady category either. but then i thought, wait, don't all stores (from k-mart to mexx) sell "tween" lines, designed specifically for this age group? i'm pretty sure they do.

this is followed by the friend saying "oh ya. and it's not like you can tell her it doesn't look good on her". disagree. why not use opportunities like this to teach your child how to dress to best suit their build (and age). you don't have to say "that looks hideous" but more of a "it's nice, but i think i like this one better" or something along those lines. can't be that hard. i do it with my friends/husband all the time. and they do it to me. it works. and i/they look better for it.

and then the kicker (drumroll please). the mom says "i finally decided to buy her a tight, sequinned, halter, v-neck dress that has padding in the boobies (her words, not mine)". disagree! disagree! i'm no expert here but i'm pretty sure that this is not what you should buy an 11 yr old. for any reason. ever. especially one who is "built like her mom".

11! cripes. you know what i wore when i was 11? loose, boxy, babydoll dresses (hmmm, no that was 13 i think). regardless, i can tell you for certain that i didn't wear a tight-sequinned-v-neck-halter-that-emphasized-my-"assets" (not that i had any at that age) because neither of my parents would have let me out of the house (my dad still won't...)

i left pretty quick after that last bit. i couldn't bring myself to keep listening (though deep down, i was fascinated) but mostly i had to get to work. when i left i thought to myself "actually, i do have a dress quite similar to that. maybe i shouldn't judge".

then i remembered that i'm 31. not 11.
xo